Automobile headlight



Aug. 3 1926.

C. A. MICHEL AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT Filed Feb. 7.

' passing other automobiles or Patented Aug. '3, 1926.

UNITED p STATES CLARENCE A. MICHEL. OF CLEVELAND OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GUIDE MOTOR LAMP.

1,594,544 PATENT OFFICE.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01 OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT.

Application filed February 7, 1925. Serial No. 7,440.

This invention relates generally to automobile headlights, and more particularly to certain improvements pertaining to the lamp and reflector whereby the driving conditio us are improved.

In most automobile headlights, as at present constructed, a single filament lamp is arranged centrally of the reflector, and a single filament lamp usually of less candle power than the central lamp is arranged near the top of the reflector.

The central lamp is used for roaddriving while the upper lamp, commonly called a dimmer, is used for city driving and when pedestrians uponthe road.

Furthermore, in automobile headlights as at present constructed it is common to employ a modified form of reflector or a modified form of lens with the idea of preventing the disagreeable glare when meeting other automobiles or pedestrians and these improvements are serviceable at times but there are other times, due either to the unevenness of the road or the movement of the automobile up and down when they are not so efiicient.

The object of my invention is to add an element of safety to the present devices by employing a double filament lamp which is centrally arranged and in combination there with a reflector so constructed that the top of the beam is carriedfo-rwardly within the legal limit a considerable distance in advance of the automobile for road driving, and for city driving or while passing other automobiles the top of the beam can be materially deflected or drawn downwardly so as to avoid all possibility of glare.

There are various modifications of the reflector whereby the broad principle of my invention can be ac omplished and in the drawings forming a part of this specification I have shown one form for carrying out the broad principle of my invention and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a reflector constructed in accordance with my invention and having a centrally disposed double filament lamp and Fig. 2 is a face view of the same.

Referring to the drawings A indicates the incandescent lamp having two filaments B and C, the filament B being arranged slightly above the axis D of the reflector E while the filament G is substantially on the axis.

There are two focal points indicated and the upper half of the refiector'is described from the rear focal point while the lower half of the reflector is described from the forward focal point. The upper portion of the upper half of the reflector and the lower portion of the lower half of the reflector are tilted, the upper surface F G indicating the tilted portion of the reflector while the line F G indicates the curvature before the tilt. With reference to the lower half, the tilted portion is indicated by the full line H I whereas the dotted line H I indicates the surface prior to the tilt. The upper portion of the upper half and the lower portion of the lower half are thus tilted to insure the downward movement of all of the trays emanating from either filament. In order to facilitate the manufacture of the reflector as herein described and without the employment of intersecting angles, I provide transition surfaces D between thc' upper and lower sections of the reflector and also transition surfaces F and H between the portions of the upper and lower halves respectively of the reflector. Where there are reflector surfaces of different curvature of revolution, sharp angles are produced at their intersection and these angles not only introduce errors in the reflecting surface but also render the manufacture of the reflector very difficult and to overcome these objections I interpose the transition surfaces hereinbefore referred to.

When the lower filament C is employed, the beam is projected forwardly a considerable distance slightly below the horizontal. and therefore within the legal limit and when the lower filament C is cut out and the upper filament B cut in, there is a perceptible bending or throwing. downwardly of the top of the beam so as to produce ample illumination while driving in the city or in passing other automobiles and preventing the possibility of glare.

Although I have not shown any special construction of headlight lens arranged in front of this reflector it is obvious that either a plain or modified lens could be employed in connection with this reflector.

It will thus be seen that I provide a very simple yet highly efficient combination of lamp and reflector for use in automobile headlights and wherein the centrally disposed incandescent lamp is provided with two filaments preferably of the same candle power although filaments of different candle powers can be employed, if so desired.

Having thusv described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a light projector, the combination of a reflector and a light bulb having two independently lighted filaments, one substantially on the axis of the reflector and one above said axis, the focus of the lower half of the reflector being spaced from and in advance of the focus of the upper half of the reflector, the filaments being located between the focal points, the upper portion of the upper half of the ieflector being tilted downwardly and the lower portion of the lower half of the reflector being tilted downwardly so as to reflect downwardly the rays of light from either filament.

2. In a light projector, the combination of a reflector and a light bulb having two independently lighted filaments, one on the axis of the reflector and one above said axis, the focus of the lower half of the reflector being spaced from and in front of the focus of the upper half of the reflector, said filaments being located between the focal points, the upper portion of the upper half of the reflector being tilted downwardly and the lower half of the lower reflector being tilted downwardly whereby rays of light from either filament are directed downwardly, and transition surfaces interposed between the halves of the reflector and also between the tilted and untilted portions of the reflec-- tor.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

CLARENCE A. MICHEL 

